If he didn’t know better he’d think she was avoiding him. They hadn’t been scheduled together for any more surgeries, which wasn’t uncommon. There were a lot of surgeons and lots of nurses. Not as many anesthesiologists. They were rotated all over the place.
“That will be the day. And we should probably get down there. Or you should get down there and I’ve got to go back and check in with Dani. Her mother is almost in tears and she got Aunt Diane going. I didn’t want to lose it.”
“You?” Wyatt asked. “Tough Jade Fierce never cries over things like this. Not at weddings or happy ever after. Now if you got some dirt on your dress, like ink from this pen,” he said picking it up.
“I’d kick your ass and then you’d be the one crying, not me.”
“That’s the sister I love.”
“I love you too, Wyatt. Look at this. It’s just you and me and Ryder single. Ryder doesn’t count. I don’t like to be lumped in the same sentence as him. How is this possible? We are pretty awesome catches.”
“I keep saying that too,” he said. “No one believes me.”
She laughed. “Someone on your mind you are trying to catch?”
His twin saw more than he ever wanted her to. He suspected that was what brought her in here to begin with. “There is someone I wouldn’t mind spending some time with,” he admitted. “It’s just not a good time for her.”
“Meaning?”
“Someone Mom asked me to show around town. She’s new to the area. All fiery and giving me shit too.” He waved his hand. “Doesn’t matter. I offered and she told me no.”
“Someone turned you down?” she asked. “Did your ego deflate on the spot?”
“She’s interested,” he said. “It’s just not the right time. I’ve got to figure out my next move.”
“Hmm,” she said.
“What was that sound for?”
“Nothing. It’s time for a wedding. See you down there.”
Jade left and he grabbed his keycard. Everyone was staying the night in the hotel the wedding was being held in. It wasn’t far from his place, but he didn’t want to worry about watching his drinks tonight either. No one did.
His cousins from Charlotte were all here and he was going to let loose and relax.
Hopefully all their blissful marriages and kids didn’t put him in a bad mood. Because his sister was right—he thought he was a damn good catch, if only he could find someone like everyone else seemed to be doing.
Two hours later Sam and Dani were happily married. Pictures were being taken while the guests were having drinks and eating food that he wished was in front of him.
But he’d have to get used to this since both of his brothers were now engaged too. He wouldn’t be the best man. They’d be each other’s best men. He figured he’d never be the best man either.
All his cousins will get that honor, but not him. Noah and Drake had each other and Sam, Bryce, and Ryder already talked it over to split it so they each did it once. They were all close. Ryder was going to be Bryce’s best man. Sam Ryder’s. Which meant Sam would probably never have to worry since Ryder had the worst taste in women in the whole family and it never lasted.
But his youngest cousin kept trying so he’d give him credit for that.
Once pictures were done, the wedding party made their way onto the dance floor one at a time, the music started, and the bride and groom began their slow dance.
Yeah, Sam looked happy as hell. His oldest cousin almost shed a tear up there when Dani walked down the aisle. He supposed he couldn’t blame Sam, as Dani just looked radiant.
Jade was standing in front of him. They needed to do their dance. After the talk they had in his room he figured he would have a little fun with her.
They put their hands in each other’s and she moved close to him, not enough to touch him other than their hands but within his personal space.
“Come on,” he said loud enough for others on the dance floor and family close by to hear. “It’s not that icky, Jade. You’re my sister for God’s sake.” Then he stepped back so that their arms were stretched out wide, a few people could fit between them. “But if you don’t want to touch me, then I guess we can make sure it doesn’t accidentally happen either.”
“Wyatt,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
“Jade,” Dani said as Sam and her twirled closer. “You shared a womb with him. It’s only a dance.”
Wyatt pulled her in closer and laughed. “Ass,” she said to him.
“Did you expect any differently?” he asked.
“No, I didn’t.”
* * *
“One down,” Carolyn said to her sister-in-law Diane. “You beat us to it, but Sam is the oldest. Bryce is next. It’s two and two.”
Her sister-in-law Diane and brother-in-law Grant might have had their two kids beat her boys to the altar, but she’d always have more.
“It is,” Diane said. “But you’ve just got two more to worry about. I’ve only got one.”
“Please,” Grant said to his wife. “We’ve got the hardest of the lot with Ryder. So how is it going with Wyatt?”
Carolyn looked around and leaned closer to everyone. Her sister-in-law Jolene and brother-in-law Gavin were at the table too. They’d started the whole thing years ago with their five. “I know they’ve talked. He told me they were in the same OR the other day.”
“Wyatt was trying to ask some questions about her,” Garrett said. “But Carolyn was playing hard to get with him.”
“That just annoys Wyatt,” Diane said. “Good move. It made him want to know more, didn’t it?”
“That was my plan,” Carolyn said. “Shh. Here comes Jade.”
“So what is going on over here?” Jade asked
